The World of Aviation

EADS North America has confirmed that it will not protest the USAF’s selection of Boeing’s KC767AT in the KC-X competition to begin replacing the service’s ageing fleet of KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers. While EADS “expressed appreciation to the Air Force for running a competition consistent with the rules set out in its Request for Proposal”,

The first of five Airbus A380s for China Southern Airlines has completed its maiden flight after completion of the final assembly and system tests in Toulouse, France. The aircraft flew from Toulouse to Hamburg, Germany, where the cabin will be installed and it will be painted in full China Southern livery. China Southern Airlines will

Boeing has announced the successful completion of the first engine runs for its 747-8 Intercontinental, a key milestone in preparing the aircraft for first flight. Engine runs began at 11:57 hours local time on Tuesday, lasting approximately two hours and 45 minutes. During initial engine runs, engines were started and operated at various power settings

Turkish Airlines has signed a firm order for 10 Airbus A321s and three A330-200F freighters. The new aircraft will join Turkish Airlines’ existing fleet of 75 Airbus aircraft, including four A310 freighters, 50 A320 variants, 11 A330s, one A330-200F and nine A340s.

The second F-35 Lightning II production aircraft, AF-7, has taken off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, making its first flight last Friday (March 4). The F-35A CTOL variant flew for 1.3 hours. AF-7 is the second and final aircraft from Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lot 1, with the first aircraft,

Qantas has announced a second increase in its international fuel surcharges in response to continual rises in jet fuel prices. The changes, which will apply to tickets issued on or after March 17, have been put down to a “range of factors”, according to Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, who pointed out ongoing political instability in